Doula Care Across the Lifespan
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Program Overview
Doulas play a vital role in supporting people through some of life’s most profound moments. As trusted, non-regulated professionals, they provide emotional, physical and informational care during major life transitions and experiences. Fanshawe’s two-year Doula Care Across the Lifespan diploma is the first program of its kind to fully integrate reproductive and end-of-life doula practice. Students gain the skills and confidence to support individuals and families through abortion, birth, postpartum, end-of-life and bereavement care while learning through a trauma-informed, client-centred lens. Building on Fanshawe’s established Doula Studies certificate, the program also offers pathway and advanced standing opportunities for graduates ready to deepen their practice and expand their career opportunities.
Program Details
Program Code
DLA2
Credential:
Ontario College Diploma
Duration
60 Weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2026 September
London
Open
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2026 September
London
Open
Your Learning Experience
You will learn to support families through the full-spectrum of reproductive options, outcomes, and life transitions, from preconception, through birth, to death. The program emphasizes the doula’s role within the broader health care system, equipping you with theoretical and practical experience in advocacy, trauma-informed care, reproductive justice, and ethical client-centred practices.
Doulas are often self-employed entrepreneurs and need to promote their services in various ways. You’ll learn how to set up your own business, develop effective marketing and branding strategies, utilize social media and build inter/intra-professional collaborations.
Career Outcomes
Unique to Fanshawe’s diploma program, students will learn how to set up their own business (business plan, taxes, and scheduling), develop effective marketing and branding strategies, utilize social media and build inter/intra-professional collaborations.
Doulas may seek employment with for-profit organizations that offer full-spectrum services such as abortion, grief and loss support, or fertility treatments. Most clients are self-referred to doulas, making for a flexible career accommodating many different schedules and needs. When hiring a doula, a client will choose based on the doula's availability, the requested services, and competency. Many clients hire their doulas for different reasons: affordability, professionalism, and experience.
Learning Outcomes
During this program, you will learn to:
- Educate clients about their health care options during life transitions.
- Evaluate and apply evidence-informed practices in diverse contexts
- Cultivate community engagement to connect clients with local resources and support networks that enhance their health and well-being throughout different life stages.
- Facilitate collaboration with clients, health care teams, and communities to deliver safe and inclusive care that is affirming and aligned with the client’s vision.
- Provide responsible, accountable, and ethical care in alignment with a professional doula business.
- Apply a trauma-informed and harm reduction approach across all interactions to foster a safe environment for clients.
- Foster professional relationships to cultivate a supportive community in the field of practice.
- Advocate for comprehensive access to reproductive and end-of-life options to challenge stigmatization and discrimination and work towards dismantling patterns of oppression.
- Develop strategies that lead to lifelong learning and self-care through critical reflection, ensuring doulas remain informed, resilient, and effective in their support of clients.
- Learn about Indigenous practices and ways of knowing to support clients, families and communities during birth, life and death in a culturally safe manner.
Admission Requirements
OSSD (with courses from the College (C), University (U), University/College (M), or Open (O) stream), or equivalent, or mature applicant.
Students who do not have a high school diploma may wish to consider taking the Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) grade 12 Equivalency Certificate.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 4.5 with no score less than 4 in any band |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands. score of 80 in listening |
| PTE Academic | Minimum score of 53 with no score less than 45 in any of the four bands |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 169 with no language skill less than 162 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9, or 70% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 105, with no score lower than 95 |
| LanguageCert Academic | Overall score of 65 with no score less than 60 in any of the four skills |
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
- Any Grade 12 English (C), (U), or (O)
- Grade 11 or Grade 12 Biology (C) or (U)
- Grade 11 Health Care (C) OR Grade 12 Human Development
Throughout the Lifespan (M)
Recommended Personal Preparation
Recommended Personal Preparation
- Interest in learning and working across the full spectrum of reproductive options (e.g. birth, abortion, death, surrogacy, adoption, parenting).
- Development of personal responsibility and emotional maturity by participating in social organizations interested in helping people using the principles of social justice and trauma informed care.
- Willingness to engage in conversations about grief, loss, and death.
- Show respect for the diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contribution of others.
- Ability to effectively communicate in conversational English.
- Able to act as a respectful classmate by listening without judgment, speaking with care, and upholding the privacy and dignity of the learning space.
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
The following items are applicable to the program and are time
sensitive. Please refer to www.fanshawec.ca/preplacement for
important information about preparing for placement by the due
date.
- Possession of a Standard First Aid course certificate (either St. John Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross or equivalent)
- Basic Rescuer course certificate - Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers (HCP) in accordance with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Canadian Guidelines for CPR
- Evidence of Good Health
- Up to date immunizations are required
- Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, including a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database
- Privacy and Confidentiality Agreement
- Travel to practicum placements and site visits at the student's own expense will be required
- Guide to Completing your Professional Practice Requirements
- Pre-Placement Process
- Professional Practice Health Form
- Placement Agreement
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Gen Ed - Take a 3 credit General Education elective course. | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| HLTH-1230 | Historical Context-Reproductive Culture | 3 | ||
| This course introduces students to the historical milestones that have shaped the current reproductive healthcare landscape. Drawing on anthropology, sociology, and health policy, students will explore how cultural, political, and systemic factors influence reproductive experiences and outcomes. Through a framework of reproductive justice, the course considers pathways towards more equitable care. | ||||
| HLTH-1231 | Anatomy & Physiology of Reproduction | 3 | ||
| This course introduces the biology of reproduction. Students will explore biochemistry, basic medical terminology, and the anatomy and physiology of the human body's eleven systems. Additional topics include physiological adaptations to pregnancy, embryology, lactation, and labour. | ||||
| HLTH-1232 | Preparing for Birth 1 | 3 | ||
| This course introduces learners to foundational concepts within preconception, pregnancy and the process of labour and birth for the labouring person, partner, and doula. Students will learn to apply basic comfort and supportive measures aligned with a Doula's scope of practice. Students will learn how to accompany families throughout pregnancy, labour and birth across reproductive environments. | ||||
| HLTH-1233 | Postpartum 1 | 3 | ||
| This course focuses on identifying the needs of new families as they transition into the first six weeks of the postpartum period. The cultural context of newborn care and socio-environmental space of the family are examined. Emphasis is placed on learning the basics of parental adjustment, infant feeding, postpartum mental health, and the role of the doula within the postpartum space. Emerging skills, strategies, and the ability to identify appropriate community resources to become responsive to the dynamic needs of families in transition are developed. | ||||
| HLTH-1234 | Self & Others | 3 | ||
| This course focuses on understanding interpersonal relationships in order to effectively navigate the complex and multidimensional world of reproductive health. Students critically explore their personal beliefs, values and assumptions, about themselves as part of a family, culture, and different communities. This course enhances interpersonal communication as the learner becomes more self-reflective, learning to nurture supportive relationships while setting professional boundaries. | ||||
| WRIT-1048 | Reason & Writing 1 for Health Sciences | 3 | ||
| This course will introduce health sciences students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
| HLTH-1236 | Practicum 1 | 3 | ||
| Practicum One enables students to develop an understanding of breadth and depth of the applied role of the doula. Students are assigned community placements that provide a variety of diverse observational and practical experiences. Students learn alongside a variety of practitioners who engage with families across a wide range of circumstances related to doula practice during the perinatal period. Students begin to apply the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom to practical environments that include in-home, institutional, community, classroom, and lab-based settings. Experiences are designed to expose students to a wide range of opportunities while allowing them to identify their strengths. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
[1] Total program costs are approximate and subject to change. They do not include additional fees such as the health and dental plan, bus pass, or general expenses. Learn more about ancillary and additional fees.